Lucy Porter's debut inspired by 18th century Edinburgh

The true story of a secret all-female intellectual club in 18th century Edinburgh inspired Lucy Porter to write her debut play, the stand-up tells Jay Richardson.

UK's first Vegan Comedy Festival announced

Dig out your tofu jokes, stand by with quinoa quips, next month the UK's first Vegan Comedy Festival will open in Brighton. Twenty comedians will appear over the course of the two-day event, every one of them vegan. The comedy festival is an off-shoot of VegfestUK, a celebration of all things vegan - cookery demonstrations, food stalls, talks, speed-dating - which is now in its 13th year. The odd vegan stand-up like Sara Pascoe, Lucy Porter or Dave Spikey has appeared at the festival in the past, but this will be the first time there has been a dedicated comedy event. Carl Donnelly, Michael Legge, Andrew O'Neill and Harriet Kemsley are among the established names and up-and-comers who will perform as audiences enjoy vegan beer and hotdogs from the bar.

Lucy Porter writing historical feminist Radio 4 sitcom

Lucy Porter is writing an historical feminist sitcom for Radio 4. The Fair Intellectual Club will be a 'funnier' version of the comedian's Fringe play of the same name, about a group of teenage girls in early 18th Century Edinburgh who formed a secret society for intelligent discourse, where they can aspire to the same educational opportunities as men.

Radio Times review

It can't be a coincidence that whenever Richard Osman appears as a panellist, QI seems to trip along in a higher gear. It's the snappiest episode for a while, and although some credit for that goes (I suppose) to the questions and curiosities dug up by the QI Elves, I prefer to credit Osman, Phill Jupitus and Lucy Porter for upping the banter.

As Fry hands out plastic bags to be blown up, Jupitus quips, "Time for the controversial auto-erotic asphyxiation round..." and Osman's off-the-cuff name for a penguin dating service is inspired. We learn stuff too, about Turgenev, our fingertips and the largest native land animal in Antarctica - not what you might think.

The Lucy Porter extended interview

Stand-up comedian, Lucy Porter, is a huge hit with comedy audiences across the UK with her distinctive, bouncy, feel-good comedy. She recently took some time off performing to get married and have a couple of kids. In this extended interview Martin Walker asks about family, feminism and being back at the Edinburgh Fringe.

How to tell jokes like a pro

Our writer tries to get laughs from total strangers - would she get funnier after a masterclass from Lucy Porter?

Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Lucy Porter

It sometimes feels that Lucy Porter has been doing Edinburgh almost as long as me. And in some ways she has.

This week's new comedy

Previews of Tell Me Something I Don't Know, Aamer Rahman and Lucy Porter.

Lucy Porter talks about her Northern Soul tour

"Yes I'm back to the hardcore drinking and it's been fine," she jokes. "But this week has been amazing, I've even managed to have a spa day!"

Jessica McDermott interview

London based Jessica McDermott graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2008. Her most recent project, Females of the Fringe, features thirty-two women comedians and documents their opinions on gender and comedy. The book includes Sarah Millican, Susan Calman, Lucy Porter, Zoe Lyons and is out later this year.